Coin operated car wash



March 30, 1965 R. P. BAIRD, JR., ETAL COIN OPERATED CAR WASH 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Oct. 5.1, 1 963 I l 1 L i 1 r r 'I///I////////I/;,

FIG .5.

FIG.3.

INVENTORS Roger R B0ird,Jr. Sure B. Buirda Jam 5 C.Rees

BY M

ATTORNEYS March 30, 1965 R. P, BAlRD, JR, ETAL 3,175,564

COIN OPERATED CAR WASH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 51, 1963 FROST LINE FIG .2

FIG .4

INVENTORS RogerP. Baird,Jr. Sara B.cBu|iRrd& James ees BY M @fiuw ATTORNEY 5 United States Patent 3,175,564 COIN OPERATED CAR WASH Roger P. Baird and Sara B. Baird, both of 6910 Lakewood Road, Richmond, Va., and James C. Rees, 7704 Stuart Road, Richmond, Va.

Filed Oct. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 320,959 6 Claims. (Cl. 134-58) The present invention relates generally to a system for self-operated vehicle cleaning and to equipment therefor. More particularly it relates to a coin controlled car body washing system and apparatus, wherein the customer operates the cleaning apparatus and systematically drives his vehicle through the cleaning apparatus in predetermined timed relation to coin controlled timer operated cycles of the apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel system for washing motor vehicles with a series of coin controlled high pressure spray means, whereby rubbing, brushing or the like, either mechanically or manually is eliminated.

Another object is to provide a coin operated novel washing apparatus solely controlled by a customer while the customer remains in the vehicle and drives the same through cleaning and rinsing stations of the apparatus according to a predetermined rate.

Another object is to provide an economical do-ityourself car wash apparatus whereby customers may quickly and economically have their cars washed by the simple insertion of one or more coins in a meter to institute a selected cycle of car Washing operations.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein two embodiments of apparatus used to practice the invention are illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for this purpose should be had to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a top elevational view of schematic nature illustrating one embodiment of the invention showing at least two spray stations through which a vehicle to be washed is moved;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross section view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, illustrating the underground installations for the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross section view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a preferred operating circuit for the washing apparatus including coin controlled means for triggering a plurality of sequential timer switch devices and showing electric power lead connections from an electric control and supply box; and

FIGURE 5 is a top elevational view of schematic nature of a second embodiment of the invention showing pluralities of liquid detergent spray means and high pres sure water spray rinse means.

Referring to the drawings and first with particular reference to embodiment one of FIGURE 1, there is shown the above ground portion of the washing apparatus which comprises a pair of spaced wheel quide means, such as guide means and 11 with a center relatively wider guide means 12 mounted on or formed in a concrete base or ground portion R. These three guide means are spaced to provide wheel track areas or wheel ways 13 and 14 along which a car to be washed is driven at a 3,175,564 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 predetermined rate by each customer after a coin of predetermined denomination is dropped into the coin control box 15 at the starting station A.

A customer when desiring to initiate a car wash operation drives his car forward along the wheel ways 13 and 14 following the coin insertion into a selected coin slot at station A. The customer after his coin insertion continues to drive the car forward through a first liquid detergent mist spray arbor or Wicket 18 located at a second station B to be sprayed with a detergent solution and thence forward through car jet spray arbors or wickets 19 and 20 at a third liquid discharge high pressure rinse station C.

A flood light 17 is installed to illuminate the apparatus, if needed, and may be suitably illuminated either manually or by any suitable automatic light sensitive switch operation.

The liquid detergent mist spray arbors or wickets and the liquid rinse jet spray arbors or wickets are generally similar in configuration. For example, the car spray arbors 18, 19 and 20 are shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The single mist spray arbor 18 is formed as a continuous rectangular loop from tubular means such as pipes 22, 23, 24 and 25 connected together at three corners by conventional elbow couplings 26, 27 and 28 and at the fourth corner by a T-shaped coupling 29, see FIGURE 3. The lower pipe line 25 may be seated or embedded in the supporting base R, below the vehicle guide Ways 13 and 14 and from the T-coupling 29 connects with the mist spray arbor pump supply conduit 30 connecting to the output port of a pump 32, see FIGURE 2. This pump has two inlet ports, one connecting with a detergent suction line 33 which dips into a detergent solution supply tank 34 and the inlet port connecting by suction line 35 with a main water supply line or conduit 37.

The main water supply line connects to the intake conduit 38 of a second pump 39, which pump has an outlet port connected to outlet conduit 40 coupled to a branch coupling 42, see FIGURE 2. The branch coupling 42 is formed with two spaced coupling openings, one for a conduit section 43 to a coupling 44 at the connected corner of the jet spray arbor 19 and one for connection 45 at the second spaced coupling opening to the bottom pipe section of the jet spray arbor 29.

In each pump outlet line 30 and 40 between the respec tive pumps 32 and 38 and the main drain line 50 are sole noid valves 46 and 47, respectively, which valves serve to drain all fluids in the respective pump outlet conduits and from the respective spray arbors into the main drain line 50 by way of branch drain conduits 51 and 52 in response to the ambient atmospheric temperature conditions sensed by the thermal sensor T above the apparatus base R. Such drain arrangement protects against freezing during cold weather. The main drain line 50 connects to drain outlet coupling 48 embedded in the concrete base or ground portion R, which portion R may be formed with a troughlike slope to facilitate draining of dirt, excess wash liquids and the like from the base.

Thus the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 of embodiment one has, for example, three stations, namely, the coin actuated starter car entry station A, the mist-spray detergent application station B and the final high jet spray car rinse station C.

As shown in FIGURE 4, embodiment one at the station A includes the power panel 56 for the electrical timer switch and power supply means and has mounted thereon 7 3 I the pumps 32 and 39, which arrangement is adaptable for the embodiment illustrated in either FIGURE 1 or FIG- URE as will be hereinafter described. Also, on the panel 56 isa junction box 60 from a source of electric power with incoming power lines 61, 62 and 63, and outlet electric'conductor leads 65, 66, to one side of the coin actuated switch means and to the electric timers connected for selective relative operation according to the coin in- V serted in one of the coin meters to operate the sequence timing switches 57, 58, or 59. Also, electric leads 67 and 68 are connected to the flood light 17 which is controllable by separate switch means, not shown. Thus each of the three coin receivers shown is electrically connected to its own separate sequence timing switch and these switches connect through electric leads 70 and 71 to the respective electric motors, not shown, of pumps 32 and 39. Lines 67 and 68 feed current to the solenoid portions of drain valves 46 and 47, and a suitable thermostat switch T, see FIGURES 2 and 4.

Sequence timing controls in the embodiments of FIG- URES 1 and '5 are similar, however, they are effected in a different manner. Since the embodiment of FIGURE 1 does not lend itself to more than one cycle of detergent applicationtime-lag-high pressure Wash off and rinse, the timers therein are arranged and connected with the coin receiver means so that additional coinage in different selections allows a customer longer periods of detergent application and jet wash oif to give the said customer more time to pace his car through each application station. In the embodiment of FIGURE 5 all three timers offer the sameduration of time for each application cycle, however, timers 5 7, 58 and 59 require ditferent amounts of coinage through their respective coin receiver means and deliver, respectively, additional cycles of detergent application-time delayjet wash oif and rinse.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the drain valves 46 and 47 may be opened by a thermostat control switch T positioned above ground level. This thermostat switch is any suitable known type and is set to open solenoid drain valves at just above freezing temperatures. Also, the thermostat may include an indicator flag to indicate open or closed condition of the apparatus to the public.

' Operation of embodiment one To operate the apparatus, a coin may be inserted in any one of the slots of the coin meter to close one of the switches 53a, 54a or 55a to actuate one of the electrical timing sequence switches. In connection with embodiment one, a single selected timing switch when actuated is calibrated to allow a few seconds for the driver of any car to be washed tomove the front end of the car to proper position to receive the initial mist spray from the arbor 18 at detergent station B. As the single selected sequence timing switch continues its cycle, it then starts the pump 32, which pumps water from main supply line 37 and detergent water conditioner supply tank 34 in proper proportions and forces the mixture through the mist spray nozzles 73, of the car mist spray arbor 18 at station B.

When the detergent mist spray begins to impinge against the outer body of the car the driver drives the car forward slowly at a rate calculated to permit the entire car to be covered by the detergent mist spray at station B before the end of the timer switch cycle of the selected timer. The driver continuesforward with the car until the front end of the car is at a proper position on the, guide ways 13 and 14 for initial application of high pressure rinse from the rinse jet spray arbors 19 and 20 at station C.

. The selected timer switch means after completing the ing the dirt to provide a condition faGiliiQting .easy and 4. r V eflicient wash off of the dirt at' the jet spray rinse station C.

After the detergent application at arbor 18, and penetrant time delay period, thetiming switch starts the second high pressure pump 39, which starts water flow from main water supply pipe 37 and forces water through the pluralities of jet nozzles '73 of arbors 19 and 20, which are directed from the inner sides of the upright pipe sections of the arbor jet sprays and the lower or inner side of the top pipe sections of the jet spray arbors 19 and 20 at the rinse station C.

At the start of the high pressure rinse the car driver proceeds slowly through the jet. spray rinse arbors 19 and 2t) and thus permits water to thoroughly rinse 01f dirt and detergents from the cars surfaces. Also, the driver proceeds at a predetermined rate fast enough to completely drive the car through the rinse station jet, spray arbors before the coin selected sequential timer switch completes its cycle of operation. 7

To assist the car driver in calculating the proper speed of travel through the spray arbors, a suitable audible signal may be provided with a timed ticking noise for'detergent mist spray operation of arbor 18 and another suitable indicator with a ticking signal may begin the rinse operation of the jet spray arbors 19 and 20 of FIGURES 1 and 2. Any suitable indicating devices may be used, either mechanical or electrical'to provide this signal.

Operation of embodiment two A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE 5 wherein the same principle of'coinoperated do-it-yourself 'car cleaning is accomplished. However, in this embodiment the car spray arbors are multiplied in number and are arranged to form a veritable tunnel with alternate detergent mist spray arbors 75 adjacent alternate water rinse high pressure jet spray arbors 76. a

Also, with this arrangement the same timer switch arrangement in FIGURE 4 may be used and for an extra thorough wash performance, when multiple cycles are selected, wheel guide ways 77 and 78 are arranged with transverse spaced wheel mounds 79' and 89 at the exit end of said guide Ways. For example, the car driver passes forward through the tunnel of spray arbors after inserting the proper coinage, until the front car wheels go over mount 79 and up to the mount 80. When themist spray starts the driver may then back up and go forward with the front wheels kept in the confines of the two mounds. This insures good mist coverage and subsequent good jetoif coverage of the car body by the stationary direction mist and jet heads. a j

Generally the timing switch means withthe settings and connections therefrom are identical to embodiment one, but the detergent sprays are multiplied and comprise a plurality of alternate detergent mist spray arbors and high pressure water rinse jetspray arbors 75 and 76, respectively.

As shown in FIGURE 2 relating to embodiment one, the pumps 32 and 39 and all related equipment, such as, the detergent tank, the water supply lines and the drain valves 46 and 47 are all preferably located below the frost line or ground freezing level of each installation locality. The below ground freezing level likewise applies to embodiment two of the invention. 7

Thus there are provided two forms of novel do-it-yourself vending devices for car washing, whereby a motorist may have available to him twenty-four hours a day, efficient, economical and convenient apparatus for washing his car. V

Without further description it is believed that the advantages of the present invention over the prior art is apparent and whileonly two embodiments of the same are illustrated, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto as various changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of the parts illustrated, as will now likely appear to others and those skilled in the art. For a definition of the scope or limits of the invention, reference should be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A car wash apparatus comprising a guide means, said guide means being on a concrete base, said base having drain outlets for excess liquid flowing from a car as it is Washed, a plurality of car spray arbors having spaced spray heads mounted therein connected with a source of liquid supply, a plurality of liquid supply sources below said concrete base at a predetermined depth underground for the known frost line of a locality where the apparatus is installed, electrically driven pump means for conveying liquid from said liquid supply means under pressure to be exhausted from said spray heads of each spray arbor, a coin actuated meter control station having electric switch means electrically connected to said pump means for starting operation of said pump means, electric timer means electrically connected to said coin actuated control switch means and to said electric pump means, said timer means when actuated by the coin insertion at the control station by a driver of a car to be washed operating to regulate the time of liquid discharge from each of said car spray arbors, said car to be washed being driven at a predetermined rate through said spray arbors while the pump is operating according to the calibrated operating cycle of said timer means.

2. A car wash apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises spaced guide means extending longitudinally over said concrete base and through each of said car spray arbors.

3. A car wash apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the said car spray arbors are formed like wickets and encompass a car to be Washed as it is driven along said guide means from said coin actuated control station at a predetermined rate according to the cycle of operation of said timer means.

4. A car wash apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said timer means includes a plurality of timers, said timers each being controlled by a coin-actuated switch responsive to a coil of a predetermined denomination.

5. A car wash apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the said liquid supply source connects with a detergent supply tank, an ambient temperature thermostat regulated switch, and solenoid drain valves controlled by said thermostat switch at below freezing temperatures to drain the system.

6. A coin controlled vehicle wash apparatus having an entrance end and an exit end comprising a vehicle track, a coin controlled timer at said entrance, a series of spray arbors spanning the vehicle track in the provision of a spray tunnel, some of said spray arbors being positioned adjacent the said entrance end for detergent solution discharge and some of said arbors being positioned along the vehicle track and continuing toward the said exit end for sequential supply of a mist spray of detergent solution and a high pressure jet spray of wash off liquid under control of said timer, said spray tunnel comprising alternate arbors with mist spray heads for detergent solution discharge and alternate arbors with pressure jet spray heads for discharge of wash ofi liquid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,657 10/38 Butler 134-45 2,751,915 6/56 Roberts l34-58 X 2,788,009 4/57 Lones 134-123 X 3,089,168 5/63 Blanford 134-123 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

6. A COIN CONTROLLED VEHICLE WASH APPARATUS HAVING AN ENTRANCE END AND AN EXIST END COMPRISING A VEHICLE TRACK, A COIN CONTROLLED TIMER AT SAID ENTRANCE, A SERIES OF SPRAY ARBOS SPANNING THE VEHICLE TRACK IN THE PROVISION OF A SPRAY TUNNEL, SOME OF SAID SPRAY ARBORS BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT THE SAID ENTRANCE END OF DETERGENT SOLUTION DISCHARGE AND SOME OF SAID ARBORS BEING POSITIONED ALONG THE VEHICLE TRACK AND CONTINUING TOWARD THE SAID EXIT END FOR SEQUENTIAL SUPPLY OF A MIST SPRAY OF DETERGENT SOLUTION AND A HIGH PRESSURE JET SPRAY OF WASH OFF LIQUID UNDER CONTROL OF SAID TIMER, SAID SPRAY TUNNEL COMPRISING ALTERNATE ARBORS WITH MIST SPRAY HEADS FOR DETERGENT SOLUTION DISCHARGE AND ALTERNATE ARBORS WITH PRESSURE JET SPRAY HEADS FOR DISCHARGE OF WASH OFF LIQUID. 